संजय उवाच तदनीकमनाधृष्यं भारद्वाजेन रक्षितम्। पार्थाः समभ्यवर्तन्त भीमसेनपुरोगमा:॥
Sanjaya said The Parthas then led by Bhimasena marched against that invincible array of your soldiers protected by the son of Bharadvaja.
सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। कुन्तिभोजश्च विक्रान्तो द्रुपदश्च महारथः॥
Then Satyaki, Chekitana, Prishata's son Dhrishtadyumna, the powerful Kuntibhoja, the mighty car-warrior Drupada.
आर्जुनिः क्षत्रधर्मा च बृहत्क्षत्रश्च वीर्यवान्। चेदिपो धृष्टकेतुश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ घटोत्कचः॥
The son of Arjuna, Kshatradharman, the puissant Brihat-kshatra, the ruler of the Chedis, Dhristaketu, the two of Madri, Ghatotkacha.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्तः शिखण्डी चापराजितः। उत्तमौजाश्च दुर्धर्षो विराटश्च महारथः॥
Yudhamanyu of great prowess, the unvanquished Shikhandin, the irrepressible Uttamaujas, the mighty car-warrior Virat. sons
द्रौपदेयाश्च संरब्धाः शैशुपालिश्च वीर्यवान्। केकयाश्च महावीर्याः सृञ्जयाश्च सहस्रशः॥
The wrathful sons of Draupadi, the valiant son of Shishupala, the highly powerful Kekayas and the Srinjayas by thousands,
एते चान्ये च सगणाः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः। समभ्यधावन् सहसा भारद्वाजं युयुत्सवः॥
These and many others followed by their respective clansmen, all accomplished in the use of weapons and invincible in battle rushed with impetuosity at the son of Bharadvaja, out of a desire for battling with him.
समीपे वर्तमानांस्तान् भारद्वाजोऽतिवीर्यवान्। असम्भ्रान्तः शरौघेण महता समवारयत्॥
The highly puissant son of Bharadvaja getting the warriors within reach dauntlessly checked them with a mighty downpour of arrows.
महौघः सलिलस्येव गिरिमासाद्य दुर्भिदम्। द्रोणं ते नाभ्यवर्तन्त वेलामिव जलाशयाः॥
Like a mighty wave of waters checked by an immovable hill or like the swelling ocean checked by the banks, those warriors of the Pandava army were dashed back by Drona.
पीड्यमानाः शरै राजन् द्रोणचापविनिः सृतैः। न शेकुः प्रमुख स्थातुं भारद्वाजस्य पाण्डवाः॥
Afflicted, O king, with the shafts shot upon Drona's bow, the Pandavas could not stand in front of Bharadvaja son.
तदद्भुतमपश्याम द्रोणस्य भुजयोर्बलम्। यदेनं नाभ्यवर्तन्त पञ्चालाः सृञ्जयैः सह॥
Then we beheld the wonderful strength of Drona's arms, in as much as, the Panchalas aided by the Srinjayas was not able to assail him.
तमायान्तमभिक्रुद्धं द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः। बहुधा चिन्तयामास द्रोणस्य प्रतिवारणम्॥
Beholding then the infuriate Drona rush towards himself, king Yudhishthira reflected upon the diverse measures for resisting the former.
अशक्यं तु तमन्येन द्रोणं मत्वा युधिष्ठिरः। अविषहां गुरुं भारं सौभद्रं समवासृजत्॥
At last regarding Drona to be incapable of being checked by any one else, Yudhishthira placed that unbearable heavy burden on the son of Subhadra.
वासुदेवादनवरं फाल्गुनाच्चामितौजसम्। अब्रवीत् परवीरघ्नमभिमन्युमिदं वचः॥
Then addressing that slayer of hostile heroes, namely, Abhimanyu, who was in no way inferior to the son of Vasudeva and was superior to Arjuna himself in infiniteness of prowess, king Yudhishthira said these words-
एत्य नो नार्जुनो गर्हेद् यथा तात तथा कुरु। चक्रव्यूहस्य न वयं विद्मो भेदं कथंचन॥
"O son, do you so act, that coming back, Arjuna may not have reason to reproach us. The means for breaking the circular array, is not known to any one of us.
त्वं वार्जुनो वा कृष्णो वा भिन्द्यात् प्रद्युम्न एव वा। चक्रव्यूहं महाबाहो पञ्चमो नोपपद्यते॥
O mighty-armed one, either you or Arjuna or Krishna or Pradyumna, can penetrate into the circular array. I do not find a fifth man to do it.
अभिमन्यो वरं तात याचतां दातुमर्हसि। पितॄणां मातुलानां च सैन्यानां चैव सर्वशः॥
It behoves you, so O son, O Abhimanyu, to accord the boon that your sires, your uncles and all these soldiers beg of you.
धनञ्जयो हि नस्तात गर्हयेदेत्य संयुगगत्। क्षिप्रमस्त्रं समादाय द्रोणानीकं विशातय॥
Quickly taking up your arms, smite down this array of Drona so that returning from the fight with the Samshaptakas Dhananjaya may not blame us."
अभिमन्युरुवाच द्रोणस्य दृढमत्युग्रमनीकप्रवरं युधि। पितॄणां जयमाकाडक्षन्नवगाहेऽविलम्बितम्॥
Abhimanyu said Desiring victory to my sires, I will, without delay, penetrate into the middle of Drona's firm and fierce and excellent array of troops in this battle.
उपदिष्टो हि मे पित्रा योगोऽनीकविशातने। नोत्सहे हि विनिर्गन्तुमहं कस्यांचिदापदि॥
My father has taught me the way to penetrate this kind of array. But I do not know how to come out of the array, if per chance some danger overtake me there.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच भिन्थ्यनीकं युधां श्रेष्ठ द्वारं संजनयस्व नः। वयं त्वानुगमिष्यामो येन त्वं तात यास्यसि॥
Yudhishthira said Pierce, O foremost of warriors, this array and create an opening for us to penetrate into it. Pursuing the very track you shall create, we will follow you.
धनंजयसमं युद्धे त्वां वयं तात संयुगे प्रणिधायानुयास्यामो रक्षन्तः सर्वतोमुखाः॥
Secing you penetrate the hostile ranks, we will follow you, O sire, who are equal to Dhananjaya himself in battle, protecting you from all sides.
भीम उवाच अहं त्वानुगमिष्यामि धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ सात्यकिः। पञ्चाला: केकया मत्स्यास्तथा सर्वे प्रभद्रकाः॥
Bhima said will follow you. also will Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki and the Panchalas, the Kekayas, the Matsyas and the Prabhadrakas.
सकृद् भिन्नं त्वया व्यूहं तत्र तव पुनः पुनः। वयं प्रध्वंसयिष्यामो निघ्नमाना वरान् वरान्॥
When the array will once be penetrated into by you, we will again and again destroy it, slaying foremost of the enemies' warriors.
अभिमन्युरुवाच अहमेतत् प्रवेक्ष्यामि पतङ्ग इव संक्रुद्धो ज्वलितं जातवेदसम्॥
Abhimanyu said I will break through this invincible array of Drona, like an insect under the influence of anger entering into the flames. I so
द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम्। तत् कर्माद्य करिष्यामि हितं यद् वंशयोर्द्वयोः। मातुलस्य च यत् प्रीतिं करिष्यति पितुश्च मे॥
I will this day achieve that feat that will redound to the good of both the families (of my father and mother). I will do what will please my sire and my maternal uncle.
शिशुनैकेन संग्रामे काल्यमानानि संघशः। द्रक्ष्यन्ति सर्वभूतानि द्विषत्सैन्यानि वै मया॥
All creatures will see the enemies' host crushed in large bodies by myself, an unaided child.
नाहं पार्थेन जातः स्यां न च जातः सुभद्रया। यदि मे संयुगे कश्चिज्जीवितो नाद्य मुच्यते॥
I will not consider myself to be begotten by Partha or born of Subhadra, if today, encountering me, anybody escapes with his life.
यदि चैकरथेनाहं समग्र क्षत्रमण्डलम्। न करोम्यष्टधा युद्धे न भवाम्यर्जुनात्मजः॥
If today, on a single car I cannot cut the whole race of the Kshatriyas into eight pieces in battle, I will not regard myself as the begotten son of Arjuna.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच एवं ते भाषमाणस्य बलं सौभद्र वर्धताम्। यत् समुत्सहसे भेत्तुं द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम्॥
Yudhishthira said May your might, O son of Subhadra, increase even as you speak, in as much as you venture to break through this impenetrable array of Drona.
रक्षितं पुरुषव्याघेर्महेष्वासैर्महाबलैः। साध्यरुद्रमरुत्तुल्यैर्वस्वग्नयादित्यविक्रमैः॥
Being protected by these foremost of men, all fierce bowmen possessed of great strength, all resembling the Sadhyas or the Rudras or the Marutas, all who equal the Vasus, the fires and i the Adityas in prowess.
संजय उवाच तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा स यन्तारमचोदयत्। सुमित्राश्वान् रणे क्षिप्रं द्रोणानीकाय चोदया॥
Sanjaya said Hearing those words of Yudhishthira, Abhimanyu commanded his charioteer saying-"Quickly urge, O Sumitra, the steeds towards Drona's divisions."